Man arrested after two gas station owners are hit by car in Chico

CHICO -- What started out as a hit-and-run investigation turned into an arrest on charges of assault with a deadly weapon when a man allegedly hit two gas station owners intentionally with a car.

Chico police officers were called to the Valero Gas Station at 1350 Longfellow Ave. at 5:55 p.m. Wednesday on a report of a hit-and-run collision.

Jesse Shanker and Kevin Avila, who own the business, told police they had told a man, later identified as Matthew Perry Dorenzo, 30, of Chico, to leave the station.

When Shanker asked Dorenzo to leave, he became irate and started yelling.

The alleged assailant, who was driving a 2008 Nissan Altima, accelerated his car toward Shanker, clipping his hip as he tried to jump out of the way, police reported.

Dorenzo went out onto Longfellow, made a U-turn and came back into the station, aiming at Avila. According to the press release, the second victim tried to run away from the oncoming car, but he was hit in the back by the vehicle.

They came and bought $3 worth of gasoline, but stayed at the pump for about 30 minutes and began washing the car with the squeegee provided for windshields, Shanker said. He approached the duo and asked them to leave.

The third time Dorenzo and a woman came back they again parked at the pump, Shanker said. He once again asked them to leave, but Dorenzo allegedly said no and began cursing at him.

Shanker was walking back to the store when he heard wheels squealing and Dorenzo was coming at him at full-speed, he said. Shanker attempted to get out of the way, but he couldn't.

Avila tried to get in between pumps to protect himself, but Dorenzo allegedly ran over his foot and caused his knee to twist.

Dorenzo roared away, but the business partners had provided police details of the car during the earlier incidents, Shanker said.

At about 6:20 p.m., officer Carlos Jauregui spotted the suspect vehicle in the parking lot of the 7-Eleven at East and Ceres avenues.

Dorenzo was arrested on two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and booked into Butte County Jail.

The men suffered minor abrasions and bruises in the incident.

Shanker said his back and hip are still aching and will be getting X-rays done soon.